Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 1:36
except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land on which he has set foot, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab, recounting the failed campaign at Kadesh Barnea. He contrasts the condemned generation with Caleb, stating that the Lord will grant him and his descendants the land he first walked on.
The words — The text uses זֽוּלָתִ֞י (zu.la.Ti), literally "except," to isolate Caleb from the group under judgment. It also employs אֶתֵּ֧ן ('e.Ten), "I will give," to declare the Lord’s direct promise of territory to Caleb and his offspring.
The thread — This exception to the generation’s judgment appears in Numbers 14:24 and Numbers 32:12, where Caleb’s wholehearted following of the Lord is cited. Joshua 14:6 later records Caleb’s claim to the inheritance at Gilgal.
Why it lands — The passage establishes that faithful obedience, not generational membership, determines access to the promised inheritance. It requires the reader to recognize that divine promise follows personal allegiance rather than collective history.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the Lord.
Cross-references
- Numbers 14:24 But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he has entered, and his descendants will inherit it.
- Joshua 14:6 Then the sons of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me.
- Numbers 32:12 not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun—because they did follow the LORD wholeheartedly.’
- Numbers 13:6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;
- Numbers 13:30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We must go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly conquer it!”
- Numbers 26:65 For the LORD had told them that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
- Numbers 34:19 These are their names: Caleb son of Jephunneh from the tribe of Judah;
- Judges 1:12 And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.”